COMPETITION TEAM
The waiting room is lined with trophies, plaques and medals won by AAPA's competition teams Dancewave and Littlewave. The dancers range in age from 9 to 18 and have been competing for over 8 years now. In addition to the 2 regional and 1 national competitions they enter every year, the team also enjoys performing for the community in pageants, health fairs, parades, talent showcases and for nursing homes.

Congratulations to the current team for another great year: Jessica, Krystina, Madison, Emily, Christie, Brie, Ariel, Amanda Q, Ashley, Valerie, Cierra, Morgan, Taylor N., Taylor C., Laura and Alexis. Not only is this team talented and a bundle of energy, but they always have the best sportsmanship. We even won awards for'nicest studio' at two separate dance competitions!

Miss Jenny and Miss Pam are incredibly proud to coach such a wonderful group of dancers and would like to give special thanks to the team parents for all their support.

TEMPLETON SCHOLARSHIP
The Templeton Scholarship is given out annually to 2 of AAPA's finest students based on their dedication, attitude and potential.

Miss Pam's grandfather, Mercer Templeton, was a Vaudeville act with his brother James. They were dancers, singers, actors and contortionists who traveled the country performing in all the famous Vaudeville theaters since the age of 12. The brothers have performed with the Andrews Sisters, Jack Benny and in many of George M. Cohen's musicals. Later in life Mercer was in print ads, television commercials and TV shows such as I Spy, Milton Berle and Jack Benny.

Mercer's daughter Lois, also performed in some of her Dad's Vaudeville acts and was in 2 of George M. Cohen's musicals at a very young age. She directed theater in Staten Island and North Jersey before her last performance with Shelly Winters in "A View from the Bridge." You could always find her attending AAPA's recitals and watching her daughter and granddaughter teaching classes.

Lois started this scholarship 8 years ago and would be proud at the accomplishments of it's recipients: Tara Sherwin, Khristi Weir, Amanda Quo, Victoria Shertel, Ashley Thomas, Briana Comerford, Kaelyn Crew, Casey Johnson, Gabriella Catalioti, Cierra Jones, Amanda Young, Amber Ponzio, Alexia Vidal, Emily Lewis, Krystina Matos, Brie Clemency and Brianna Hastie. This year's winners are Christie Young and Valerie Soltis.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
Along with scholarships and dance competitions, AAPA students have other opportunities to pursue their love of dance.

The studio produced a short film of "Peter and the Wolf" directed by Mr. Tony, choreographed by Miss Jenny and Miss Pam and starring 17 of AAPA's dancers. This talented trio have also collaborated on the short film "Valediction" in which Miss Jenny performs, a hip hop video produced by Paul Jerkins for local rap artist Yella and Beth El Synagogue's production of "Carnival". Presently Mr. Tony is directing some of our acting students in the movie "Devil's Gambit" - all of these projects using AAPA dancers! AAPA dancers also model. Several of our dancers can be seen in the pages of the 2007, 2008 and the 2009 Curtain Call Costume Catalog. Many of our ballet students have recently had the opportunity to perform with the Moscow Ballet in their "Nutcracker" at the Borgata Hotel and Casino and others have danced center court at the New Jersey NETS game.

Learning different styles from other teachers is important for a dancer's training, so the faculty encourages the students to attend dance conventions and classes in NYC. Becoming a dancer is an ongoing process and we try to give the students a well rounded education with plenty of opportunities to grow.